Willaim Desmond Taylor - Unsolved Hollywood Murder

[dinamarie39]

For many years, I've been fascinated by the 1922 unsolved murder of William Desmond Taylor. This story, I think even today, would still make a fascinating movie. I think it's the most interesting of the "notorious murder & celebrity cases".

For anyone who is not familiar with the case, the handsome director was shot once in the back and killed in his exclusive Alvarado Street Bungalow. Some of the people who were considered suspects or just happened to be involved with William Desmond Taylor include Mabel Normand, Mary Miles Minter and Margaret Gibson a.k.a. Patricia Palmer (mother of Debra Paget). To this day, the case remains perplexing and has never been solved.

Billy Wilder in the great film noir Sunset Boulevard named the Gloria Swanson character of Norma Desmond after Mabel Normand and William Desmond Taylor.

I've written detailed summaries of the theories of the Taylor case. If you're interested, please visit my web page at

http://www.classichollywoodbios.com/WilliamDesmondTaylor.htm


Best...

Dina-Marie

[WarmNCozy]

For many years, I've been fascinated by the 1922 unsolved murder of William Desmond Taylor. This story, I think even today, would still make a fascinating movie. I think it's the most interesting of the "notorious murder & celebrity cases".

For anyone who is not familiar with the case, the handsome director was shot once in the back and killed in his exclusive Alvarado Street Bungalow. Some of the people who were considered suspects or just happened to be involved with William Desmond Taylor include Mabel Normand, Mary Miles Minter and Margaret Gibson a.k.a. Patricia Palmer (mother of Debra Paget). To this day, the case remains perplexing and has never been solved.

Billy Wilder in the great film noir Sunset Boulevard named the Gloria Swanson character of Norma Desmond after Mabel Normand and William Desmond Taylor.

I've written detailed summaries of the theories of the Taylor case. If you're interested, please visit my web page at

http://www.classichollywoodbios.com/WilliamDesmondTaylor.htm


Best...

Dina-Marie

I just read about William Desmond Taylor on your website. Fascinating story and yes it would make a good movie.

[dinamarie39]

Thank you! I'm happy you enjoyed the article.

[stlouischili]

I think this is an interesting case. I read everything I can get my hands on about it. IMO, Charlotte Shelby or Mary Miles Minter shot Taylor. It's hard to ignore the ballistics evidence.
I can't figure out which one did it, though. There are good arguments for both.

Blonde hair like MMM's was apparently present on his suit. I think if MMM shot him, it could have been accidentally or intentional.

Her mother, Shelby, was by all accounts crazy as a loon. If she did it, I believe it was certainly intentional.

Anyone know how to go about asking for a separate section for this? It is hard to find buried in the Black Dahlia area.

[packy]

I think this is an interesting case. I read everything I can get my hands on about it. IMO, Charlotte Shelby or Mary Miles Minter shot Taylor. It's hard to ignore the ballistics evidence.
I can't figure out which one did it, though. There are good arguments for both.

Blonde hair like MMM's was apparently present on his suit. I think if MMM shot him, it could have been accidentally or intentional.

Her mother, Shelby, was by all accounts crazy as a loon. If she did it, I believe it was certainly intentional.

Anyone know how to go about asking for a separate section for this? It is hard to find buried in the Black Dahlia area.

I think it's a good idea to have a separate section. This was an interesting case. I have the book about it, "Cast of characters" and now I'm gonna want to reread it. I remember thinking the mother could have had something to do with it because I got the impression she was crazy as a loon too.

[Tap Dancer]

I think it would make an excellent movie. I'd also enjoy a movie about Paul Bern, who was married to Jean Harlow for 2 months before he supposedly committed suicide.

Death in Hollywood (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,744399-1,00.html)

Paul Bern (1889 -1932) - Find A Grave Memorial (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?GRid=3533&page=gr)

[Tap Dancer]

I have the book about it, "Cast of characters" and now I'm gonna want to reread it.

The book is "A Cast of Killers" by Sidney D. Kirkpatrick. I'm going to order a copy right now. :)

[packy]

The book is "A Cast of Killers" by Sidney D. Kirkpatrick. I'm going to order a copy right now. :)

OMGosh! I can't believe I typed "characters" I knew better so I must be losing it. Thanks for correcting that, Tap Dancer. Enjoy the book.